CEMETERIES in Pilar town in the Camotes Islands will remain open to visitors on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days despite the national government’s order to close them during the two-day observance.
This after Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago issued an order on Thursday, October 28, 2021.
In his order, Santiago said that while their cemeteries will continue to accept visitors on Nov. 1 and 2, strict health protocols must be implemented by authorities in each cemetery.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier issued an order to all local government units (LGUs) to close all public and private cemeteries for five days from October 29 to Nov. 2.
But Santiago clarified that he is not against the DILG’s order as most of their public cemeteries are not fenced and are always accessible to people.
On October 19, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia gave local chief executives the right to decide on whether they would close their cemeteries during the two-day observance.
Santiago added that apart from his town being situated on a small island, only a few people visit their public cemeteries every All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
Pilar’s public cemeteries are situated in Barangays Dapdap, Lanao, Montserat, Moabag and Upper Poblacion.
Santiago, however, assured that they will remain vigilant during the two-day observance.
He has already ordered their local police to deploy their personnel to help regulate the number of people going in and out of the cemetery.
“I didn’t prohibit visits in our public cemeteries as a lot of people, especially from other areas within or outside Cebu, would visit our town to pay respects to their deceased loved ones,” Santiago added, in Cebuano. (ANV / JKV)